I'm having one of those weeks where I feel like I cannot drink enough coffee to make me feel awake! I think it's the fact that we have a big project at working coming up, and the fact that the weather is gloomy, and the fact that I feel like I'm approaching burnout and am in need of a break of some sort. So it's a lot of things, basically. I have purposely kept my weekend completely free of plans so I can try to relax (and also finish the Zodiac Academy books, which I have been racing through at a slightly alarming pace). Here's to rest and relaxation.

I don't know if it's the time change or what, but I have been struggling with my productivity and my energy this week - my brain has just felt so foggy all the time! I'm hoping I can come back next week feeling refreshed. I am super excited for this weekend, actually, because I'm seeing the musical Six, and I've been looking forward to this for months! I can't wait.

This week started out pretty slowly, but ramped up pretty quickly and got much busier than anticipated. I also went to the dentist this week for the first time in... a while. Not only was I avoiding all medical appointments that weren't absolutely necessary because of the pandemic, but finding a dentist who is willing to work with me (and my mouth that can't open super wide) is actually a real challenge! So I had really built it up in my head and was dreading the appointment... and it ended up not being bad at all! Which was great, but I definitely felt a little exhausted from all the pent-up anxiety I had before the appointment. Basically, what all of this means is that I'm extremely ready for the weekend.

This week has felt incredibly long as busy - I'm not sure what, exactly, it was that made it feel so exhausting, but on Thursday I was really convinced it should just... be Friday already. I honestly did not do a lot of browsing this week, so the favorites are shorter on articles this usual! There's one heavier post, and then lighter things that I saw and bought or thought about buying.

I can't believe that we're in the last full week of February. I'm looking forward to March, because in my mind it means that spring and sun and warmth are just around the corner. While I've been enjoying my laid-back, low-key weekends recently, I'm also looking forward to my hibernation coming to an end. We had some unseasonably nice weather this week, and reading outside, even just for a little bit, made me so happy. And I do have plans this weekend, actually - I'm going to see the musical Beetlejuice! It looks like it should be really fun, and I'm looking forward to it.

What a week! I don't talk a lot about my work here, but it's been an incredibly busy week for me at work as we geared up for the launch of a new program - an advocacy training program for unpaid family caregivers. Today is actually National Caregivers Day, so it's especially fitting to share it. I'm very excited that it's launching today, and also very excited to take some time to relax and recover this weekend!

Yesterday the high temperature hit 70, and we actually had sunshine, too. I was able to sit outside without a jacket, with my coffee and book, and read for 30 minutes a little before 5 PM - it was warm enough AND the sun hadn't set yet. Honestly, I kind of felt like a new person when I came back inside! I know that we still have a bit of winter ahead of us, but it helped me feel like the gloomy days will be survivable.

The temperatures are dropping today and tonight, and I am following my own advice and fully leaning into cozy mode this weekend! I'll be staying home and staying warm - lighting one of my favorite candles, snuggling under my favorite blanket, and maybe even staying in PJs all day, we'll see!

I sat down to write this post and kind of struggled with anything interesting to start with! It's just been a pretty low-key week with nothing incredibly exciting to share about. The deer have been stopping by daily again, which I love, but it's also kind of the highlight of my days right now! Fingers crossed, assuming the weather cooperates, I do have tickets to see Jagged Little Pill at the Benedum this weekend, which I'm very much looking forward to. I badly need a break from the monotony!

This week was rough - we had so many dark, dreary days and it just makes it so hard for me to feel motivated! We did have a few minutes of sunshine here and there, though, and I made sure to take advantage when I could! I keep reminding myself to really lean in to the cozy rather than perseverating over being "stuck" inside. Some days it works better than others!